
Source: VALERIE MACON / Getty
It seems like the Chicago Police Department is attempting to cast doubt on Jussie Smollett’s story of a racist and homophobic assault. Yesterday, Chicago writer Emily Zanotti claimed that the Chicago Police Department has subpoenaed Jussie Smollett’s phone records.
The tweet came after the two men who were seen on the surveillance video are determined to be homeless and having no connection to Smollett.
Later, Fox 32 reporter Rafer Weigel quoted the Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said that Smollett will be held accountable if they find he was lying about the attack and made a false report.
#ChicagoPolice Supt Eddie Johnson says #JussieSmollett is still being treated as the victim in this case but if the investigation does reveal he made a false report he will be held accountable.
— raferweigel (@RaferWeigel) February 5, 2019
At this point, with few leads about the people who attacked him, the Chicago police claim that they are trying to match the rope around Smollett’s neck to other surveillance video to see if they can determine where it was purchased.
Ok, great.
Personally, the suggestion that Smollett might have been faking his assault is problematic at this stage. By law, anyone who files a false police report will be held accountable. So it’s strange that they would put this idea out into the world.
Just keep investigating until all possibilities have been exhausted.
I can’t for the life of me think of a reason why Smollett would lie about such a thing and then involve the police. And until it is absolutely proven that he did, the suggestion shouldn’t be thrown out there.
See what a few people have to say about all of this on the following pages, including a thread of the police department’s inconsistencies from activist DeRay McKesson.
THREAD. Why is the Chicago Police Department intentionally spreading misinformation about #JussieSmollett? Even if I didn't know him, I'd be concerned just about the way information has "leaked" via "sources" within the Chicago PD to reporters. And it's been since day one. 1/
— deray (@deray) February 4, 2019
It was reported that "sources" w/in the Chicago PD said that Jussie refused to release his phone records. Then they quietly noted that he *never* refused to the phone records. He denied giving them his *phone.* They don't need his phone to access his phone records. 2/
— deray (@deray) February 4, 2019
Then "sources" said that Jussie's ribs were broken, but neither the hospital nor Jussie's team ever said that his ribs were broken. But the "sources" made Jussie out to be a liar when he never said that in the first place. 3/
— deray (@deray) February 4, 2019
Then "sources" said that Jussie didn't call 911 for 40 mins after the attack. Why don't we have the timestamps from the 911 call(s) yet? It is my understanding that the call was made immediately but that it took police 40 mins *to arrive*.
— deray (@deray) February 4, 2019
Then "sources" loudly said that there was essentially no video of anything. But at the same time the "sources" said that, the police *had video* of Jussie in Subway, walking down the street, and had various other footage — again, this was quietly reported.
— deray (@deray) February 4, 2019
Then "sources" said that Jussie couldn't have actually been hurt because he drove himself to the hospital. Later, "sources" cleaned that one up and noted that he was driven to the hospital by a friend *after* the police had interrogated him at his home.
— deray (@deray) February 4, 2019
Then we learned that a woman in Jussie's condo bldg saw someone outside of the building in the timeframe & reported this to the police. Then "sources" discounted *her* account by saying the description didn't match Jussie's description of the attackers.
— deray (@deray) February 4, 2019
First, "sources" said that Jussie kept the rope around his neck to the hospital. Then "sources" later corrected the story to note that Jussie had the rope around his neck when he arrived back to his building when the police arrived. Why did the "sources" lie initially?
— deray (@deray) February 4, 2019
Recently, "sources" said that Jussie arrived home with the food he purchased from Subway in his hand as if to suggest that if he had really been attacked he would have immediately thrown away everything he had. C'mon. The attack was close to his condo, not miles away.
— deray (@deray) February 4, 2019
And this is a great example of the "reporting" that's been happening re: the leaks from the Chicago PD. When pressed, the reporter brazenly notes that he's just blindly repeating what he's told by the PD: https://t.co/1KPB3ln5lu
— deray (@deray) February 4, 2019
In all, it's been wild to watch people blindly repeat every little detail leaked from the Chicago Police Department as fact. I'm familiar with @AJGuglielmi because he once had the same PR role (and tactics) in Baltimore. We all deserve better. Jussie is the victim, here, FYI.
— deray (@deray) February 4, 2019
Twitter: "Jussie Smollett's story is suspect. Who just walks around trying to beat up a random Black dude."
Liam Neeson: “I went up and down areas hoping some ‘black bastard’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, so I can kill him."
— Lincoln Anthony Blades (@lincolnablades) February 4, 2019
Jussie Smollett update: Police in Chicago say that Jussie is being treated as the victim for now but if investigation reveals he made a false report he WILL be held accountable. Extraordinary statement from Police leads me to think they may believe his story is not 100% truthful.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) February 6, 2019
All of it is confusing and I just feel bad for Jussie because at this rate I don't think he's ever going to get any type of resolution.
— ⚖️💜Fangirl31❤️⚖️ (@Fangirl31) February 5, 2019
My husband was gay bashed by security at a Chicago bar, and the Police came out and defended the bar employees and cited my husband as the aggressor, which was categorically false. What’s happening to Jussie doesn’t surprise me at all. It’s sad.
— Raj Kalra (@RAJonline) February 5, 2019
#ChicagoPD will forever be suspect , in my eyes
— Don't_Try_It (@QueenBee_71) February 5, 2019
Thank you! Been saying this for days. The so called police sources & some in the media are intentionally misleading people about the assault. Dont know why but I do hope Jussie & fam will sue when its over. How are assault victims supposed to seek help if this is the treatment?
— Uncancel 2020 – MVP Kamala Harris 🐶🌍💖 (@twittyhaj) February 4, 2019
Why would he need to give them his phone. I've been in more than a few fights, two of which had cops show up, and my phone was never at issue.
— J. ⚖️ (@JRILLaw) February 5, 2019